Giving Grace & a Blessing
Job 34-35
Psalm 101
1 Peter 3
-Devotion by J.J. Fletcher (MN)
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV)
Much of 1st Peter has to do with our conduct: to our faith community, our family, those in authority over us, and to the world at large. Peter gives us a list of traits in 3:8 that are emblematic of who we should be as those who are in Christ.
We should be living our lives in a way that those we interact with see those encounters as a blessing. The idea of grace is key. Elsewhere in Scripture (Rom. 14, 15 and 1 Cor. 8) we are instructed to give grace to those who are weaker or immature in their faith, not allowing ourselves to be a stumbling block to them.
Not everyone is at the same place in their faith. Someone who is new to faith is not going to have everything figured out with their doctrine, their lifestyle, or their personal conduct. Someone who is seasoned in their faith may also not have everything figured out with their doctrine, their lifestyle, or their personal conduct. While all may strive to be faithful, we have our unique (or not so unique) challenges to living a life that is faithful to the calling which we have been called.
Everyone has a bad day once in a while, and everyone goes through seasons of difficulty, so we should be prepared with hearts full of grace and mercy when someone experiences failure or lashes out due to the stresses of life. If we bless someone with an attitude of grace and forgiveness, perhaps we can help them grow and feel supported, rather than repaying with dismissiveness or combativeness that might ostracize them or create a stumbling block that might hinder healing and restoration.
Even hard truths and confrontation can be done with a spirit of grace. Peace and grace should be the goal for all of us in any hard conversation that we may need to have. Even with graceful conduct, we may encounter challenges and conflict, but if we are conducting ourselves in righteous obedience to God, then our God looks upon us and hears us. If we are lacking grace and are allowing our frustration and selfish anger to guide us, then God is against us.
Our proper behavior is not just to be aimed toward our family in Christ, but to all people. Peter further writes:
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV)
If people hate or disregard you, let it be because you were faithful to your calling in Christ, not because you are a jerk or are manipulative. And if you do find yourself being a jerk or acting underhandedly, seek forgiveness and restoration. Share your faith but be well-reasoned and gentle when you do. When you have to correct someone, be gentle and gracious, doing so out of concern for the individual and not simply for the optics of their situation.
Reflection Questions
- Reread 1 Peter 3:8. When have you seen those qualities exhibited by another? How can you strive to show each one of these traits today in every interaction?
- “We should be living our lives in a way that those we interact with see those encounters as a blessing.” – Think about your last 5-10 encounters – for how many of them do you think the other person(s) would view the encounter as a blessing? What could you do to boost that number?
- How often do you seek peace and pursue it? What happens when you don’t? What are the benefits to giving grace?
Prayer
Dear God Almighty – Thank you for the grace You have given to me. Help me to pass it along to others every day. Help my words, attitude and actions be a blessing to all I encounter. Led by Your direction in 1 Peter and by Your Spirit, may I be pleasing to You.
Seek Grow Love 